take their stories from head to paper,
working at their own pace and time.
Character Development is Essential?
Have you wondered if character development is essential to a story? Developing a character can feel like sculpting with invisible clay! Why? Well, because it’s more than just a list of traits. You’re crafting a person, someone readers will connect with, and that requires depth, emotion, and consistency!
Why Character Development is Essential?
When you get character development right, your readers will become invested. They’ll laugh, cry, and cheer for your characters as if they’re real people. And that’s every writer’s dream, right? To create characters who stick with your readers long after they’ve finished the book.
I read several books as a child. I can’t remember every detail but I remember certain characters because of either how they made me feel or the message the author conveyed through the characters.
Take the book Oliver Twist for example. I last read that book 30 plus years ago. I have since forgotten most of the story and many of the characters but I still remember Oliver. The boy born on the street and lost his mother shortly after his birth. He lived in an orphanage and often mistreated by people and institutions that should care for him. I remember this character because I have come across individuals with similar life experiences as Oliver.
And like Oliver, they are mistreated and looked down upon. For me, the main character highlights how poverty, class distinction, family or institutions can affect the trajectory of a person’s life.
The author, Charles Dickens used the different characters in that book push out his message and it resonated with so many people at the time and down to this day! How can you develop characters that can push your message? And if you do include illustrations how does this help? What do you do if you cannot draw create the graphics for your book?
Please Keep This in Mind
Characters are ike everyday people, pets or things. Give them personalitties. Allow them to have flaws and create conflicts. Show how they cope and solve their problems.Character development requires creating a believable, multi-dimensional person who feels 'real' to the reader. Creating a world where your characters will help push out your message. It involves imaginative thinking that will sap you of time and energy.
The good news is that you can succeed in creating engaging characters. But before you start, keep the following points in mind:
- Complexity of Human Nature: People are complex, with layers of emotions, desires, and contradictions. To develop a compelling character, you need to reflect this complexity. It is not just about listing traits but understanding their deeper motivations and fears. And remember, people have flaws. Just look around you and interact with people. What are the common characteristics, emotions, or desires you see? If you are writing for people, the traits of your characters must be the same you see with everyday people.
- Backstory and Growth: We need to know where your characters are coming from. So, please give us a backstory that shapes who they are, but it shouldn't overwhelm the narrative. Balancing just enough detail to make their past relevant is tricky. As the story progresses, you may want to let us see how your character changes over time. How does the change affect the story? In my book, Freddy and the Veggies, the backstory presents a little boy who is full of life but hates his veggies. Then, an incident occurred that changed his view of vegetables.
- Emotional Engagement: We connect with characters that touch us emotionally. Emotional connections motivate us to take action. Your book character should connect with readers on an emotional level. This requires depth, and time in understanding their internal conflicts, struggles, and relationships. As your characters battle real-life issues, your readers become hooked on your story and and, your message.
People connect with events, people, and things that affect them personally. If your character struggles with the things your readers struggle with, your book will get the nod!
Every writer struggles with this at some point. And yes, it’s hard work, but the payoff is HUGE!Tips to Creating Engaging Characters
Remember, you are writing for people. And your characters will do what people, pets or familiar objects do that have a human appeal. Now, let’s get practical! Here are a few tips to bring your characters to life:
- Dialogue: How your character speaks reveals so much about them. Are they confident? Nervous? Show how their speech reflects their personality. Create situations that will make them have interactions that show readers their personality.
- Actions Over Words: Actions speak louder than words. What your character does often says more than what they say. Are they mischievous, kind, happy? Let them show us who they are!
- Relationships: How do they interact with others? Characters often reveal their true selves through their relationships with other characters.
- Inner Conflict: What’s going on inside their head? A great character often has a strong internal struggle that propels them forward. A good story often starts with a conflict and as the story progresses, the characters help solve the conflict and many times, happy ending!
We agree that character development is essential. Here is another thing to keep in mind: Illustrations. Illustrations are important if you are writing a children's book. A picture tells a thousand words they say! So, images can convey more information than words can. How do you do this?
If you are good at art, draw your pictures. Or use tools like Canva to create images. Alternatively, get a graphic designer or artist to help you with pictures. As the project manager of your book publishing project, provide details that will help your designer depict your character in ways that help tell your story. You need those characters to come to life, and your relatable character and excellent pictures are essential.
Character development and illustrations are key elements, but they are not all you need. Please sign up for my newsletter as I take you through the process one bite at a time!
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